Linux - SoftwareThis forum is for Software issues.
Having a problem installing a new program? Want to know which application is best for the job? Post your question in this forum.

Notices

Welcome to LinuxQuestions.org, a friendly and active Linux Community.

You are currently viewing LQ as a guest. By joining our community you will have the ability to post topics, receive our newsletter, use the advanced search, subscribe to threads and access many other special features. Registration is quick, simple and absolutely free. Join our community today!

Note that registered members see fewer ads, and ContentLink is completely disabled once you log in.

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us. If you need to reset your password, click here.

Having a problem logging in? Please visit this page to clear all LQ-related cookies.

Introduction to Linux - A Hands on Guide

This guide was created as an overview of the Linux Operating System, geared toward new users as an exploration tour and getting started guide, with exercises at the end of each chapter.
For more advanced trainees it can be a desktop reference, and a collection of the base knowledge needed to proceed with system and network administration. This book contains many real life examples derived from the author's experience as a Linux system and network administrator, trainer and consultant. They hope these examples will help you to get a better understanding of the Linux system and that you feel encouraged to try out things on your own.

First off all i really want to be able to use linux on my system, as my primary os, and i've tried this before... a while with mandrake, a while with redhat... no go. Simply because there are things that i just cant live without.
1. Dual monitors. - i tried for hours trying to figure out how to get my dual head ati 8500 (or geforce fx 5200 256m) to use dual monitors... Drivers... woosh, way over my head i have no idea how to use dual monitors and this really really kept me from staying from linux.
That was the main reason that i dont use linux, another big reason is i chose to use napster to listen to music (legally) yet its available for windows 2k/xp and i really want to be able to use this on my system.
Also what distro do you think i should use? I've heard gentoo quite a few times.

just my thoughts man ...
if you're new to *nix or linux, then dual-boot if you need those "reqd." things.
soon, you'll be able to figure out how to get those things running too. so, don't hold back, partition, some space for linux, get a distro which is easy to install (i always suggest 'libranet' cos it's debian-based and easy to install) and not some distro which might require some extra time. i wouldnt suggest gentoo/debian/slack if it's the first time for you, but if you have some experience before, might as well, huh? have fun.

dual-monitor shouldnt be a problem to setup once you get going...
as for napster ... no idea.

they all run linux, so ... performance is not an issue.
you want ease-of-use untill the time you can talk bout performance. http://www.linux.org/dist/list.html
just hit the search button without any selections.